Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-16
allow in advance a sum sufficient to cover

the ordinary expenses in performing an
official duty will be to notify comrades
who perform such duties that if their
expenses exceed such amount. it is at
their own risk.
The growth of the order requires from
its chief officers much greater expendi
ture of time and money than formerly
Four years ago the membership was less
than one third what it is now; five years
ago it was less than one sixth: six years
ago, one seventh, and seven years ago il
was one thirteenth. The commander of
this department must now devote large
part of his time to his official duties
During the last year have received and
answered one thousand grand army
letters, many of them requiring consider
able time and research. Excluding the
month absent at the national encamp
ment, have succeeded in visiting on an
average post every two weeks. Except
| for the policy adopted by the last en-
campment, the selection of commander
must necessarily be limited to those COM
rades who could afford, in performing
| official duties. to incur considerable ex>
trary to the genius Of the order The
presidents established in the early
days of the order were made from neces-
sity, not from choice The financial
condition now permits the department to
exercise wise judgment as to what
| ought to be done for the benefit of the
order
A petition has been accepted by
George H. Thomas Post, No. :. which
reads as follows:
To the Honorable, the l. gisature of the 81 te Of
| Illinois;
Your petitioners respectfully state:
That the badge of the Grand Army of
the Republic, exhibiting the emblems of
the order is. by its members. considered
sacred 1t is made from captured can
non (foreign made,) and donated to the
order by the government, especially for
use for making the emblems of the order.
The emblems of the order made are
modest, patriotic and inexpensive; in
consequence of tie great faith put in
/ their possession, and owing to their in =
expenslveness, they are infringed by
those who use them to obtain aid and
assistance and endorsement from mem
bers of the orders fraudulently. We
therefore pray your honorable body to
enact law making it misdemesnor for
any person to wear the badge or emblems
i of the Grand Army of the Republic
or who shall use or wear the same TO oh
tain aid or assistance thereby, within the
state unless he be entitled to use and
wear the same under the rules and regu.
lations OF the Grand Army of the Repub
lie, and prescribe penalty for such
unlawful use.
| recommend that this petition be
adopted by this encam pment.
woMAN's RELIEF CORPS
! The Womans Relief Corps, auxiliar,
to the Grand Army of the Republic, ha,
5 pursued its useful, benevolent career, anC
e in the smaller cities and towns ha
a secured the full recognition which i
l merits. Under the wise administration
7 of its department president there ha
, been pleasant cooperation during tn
t year, without the slightest friction be
y tween the respective department organi
S cations.
SONS OF VETERANS
/ The Sons of Veterans are entitled +
= reference here, upon them in the futur
l. will devolve the proper observance c
II memorial day. Theirs will be the dui
= to inculcate patriotism and the grstifyn
/, report that the membership of that organ
d zation is rapidly increasing, encourage
o the hope that when the grand arm
!. passes away. the sons of veterans wi
become an invincble buiwsrk Of th
o republic.
n POST AND STAFF OFFICERS
d The prompt manner in which the T,
ir ports have been made during the la
!. quarter. and the Zeal and interest man
h Tested by the officers Of the posts al
d the comrades throughout the year is Ct
Iy titled TO special note. | have 10 than
n the department staff for their earnestnet
e. and efficiency. Chief mastering offic
I. John G. Mack performed his importaI
1e duties like an enthusiastic soldier, and
" manner worthy Of the highest cor
IS mendation. Inspector A. D. Reade T
il duced his department TO systenat
be organization, and such thoroughness
rs inspection has never before been attain,
70 in this department. Much praise is d.
or to the assistant inspectors for the indust
r and energy with which they overcau
the practical difficulties in contributing
thorough inspection. In one case | n
=, an inspector who had tramped across u
- country fifteen miles in order 70 rea'
e the post at the time appointed for the Il
n spection. The inspector general Of L
o. grand army Of the republic acknowiedg,
m the Teceip. Of Inspector Reade's repor
no in the following language you ha
IL reflected great credit upon the Grand Arn
r. of the Republic in your department
Mt the efficient work performed as shown
oi your reports. | wish 10 acknowled
20 my nigh appreciation of the Jealous al
,e faithful discharge of the arduous duti
~ devolving upon you as inspector OF I
=, department Of Illinois" To the ASST
a tant Adiutant General, H. P. Thompso
~ am under special obligations. /
ar earnest worker in the grand army,
% accepted the trust reluctantly, but
Of performed the duties Of that exacii
no office with characteristic promptness al
Iis ability.
Ia In surrenderlng the position Wi
or which you have honared me, return L
a, heartfelt thanks for the uniform courte
on extended to me by my comrades.
th A number of resolutions were init
nv duced and referred to proper commtte
4 which were appointed during the meetiu
The sessions of the grand army are seer
st WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
vi THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING.
as With the meeting of the state encam
nv ment of the G.. A. r., comes the anu
lis meeting of the Woman'S Relief Corr
VII the auxiliary to the society. AS the
70 cal corps is TO the local post. so is t
he state department of this society TO t
en- grand army department of Illinois. T
III officers of the association are: